Iceland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education

Iceland
52.6%
in 2023
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
50.5%
in 2021
Iceland rank
13th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
15th

Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education over time

  • Iceland
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
0204060199920112023

How they compare

Iceland currently reports 52.6% against 50.5% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 2.1%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 7 shared years of data; in 2011 it was Iceland ahead.

Iceland ranks 13th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 15th of 101 countries.

Across the 2 decades both report, Iceland averaged higher in 1 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Iceland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
2010s 43.1% 38.0% 5.1% Iceland
2020s 49.0% 49.9% 0.9% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education, Iceland or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Iceland, at 52.6% against 50.5% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2023.
What is the difference in educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education between Iceland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
2.1%, with Iceland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Iceland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
7 years are reported by both, from 2011 to 2021.
How do Iceland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
Iceland ranks 13th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 15th of 101 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, female (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Iceland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-rate-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-education-or-higher-population-8/iceland/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
101 places, 1,571 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release